Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Brooklyn Rackets Chief Retiring Under Duress

As Brooklyn District Attorney Charles “Joe” Hynes nears the end of 24 years in office, a controversial deputy has resigned, but not before transferring two Assistant DAs who sought to dismiss an extortion case against a Hasidic Jew because evidence is lacking, according to news reports.

Michael Vecchione, a 20-year veteran of the office who was head of the Rackets Bureau, filed retirement papers last week. He will leave three weeks before DA-elect Kenneth S. Thompson, who defeated Mr. Hynes in both the Democratic primary and the general election, takes office Jan. 1.